The Museum features many display aircraft including the WB-47E Stratojet, B-52D Stratofortress, KC-135 Stratotanker, Boeing 727, Boeing 737-2H4, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Beech Starship, Cessna T-37, Learjet 23, Cessna 500/501 Prototype, Stearman 4D, Texaco 11, Stearman Trainer, 1920 Laird Swallow, 1926 Swallow, 1930 Watkins Skylark SL, 1944 Beech Staggerwing, U-8 Seminole, Mooney Mite, and Lockheed T-33.

In 1941, the United States Army Air Corps leased the airport, added the upper control tower, and commenced operations by March 1942.

Wings were added to both sides of the terminal as the army's procurement division supervised delivery of Boeing Kaydets and B-29s.

[5][6][7][8] Several luminaries passed through the terminal, including Charles Lindbergh, Eleanore Whitney, Hopalang Cassidy, Fred Astaire, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, and Wiley Post[8] In 1951, the airport was acquired by the US Air Force for B-47 use, and renamed Wichita Air Force Base.

It sat empty and partially gutted for at least six years until the Kansas Aviation Museum was formed in 1990 and began work.